The son who shot a robbery suspect with a stun gun at their Encinitas nursery was coming to the rescue of his 62-year-old father, who was being choked with a shotgun, officials said Monday. 

The San Diego Sheriff's Department released details Monday on the events that led to the confrontation at the family's one-acre property on La Costa Avenue.

The robbery suspect, identified as 43-year-old Chuck Neil, a transient from Escondido, was first spotted on the Westons' property through surveillance video on Saturday morning, SDSO Sgt. Joe Tomaiko said. 

Fred Weston grabbed a shotgun and confronted the man. At one point, Niel grabbed the shotgun, and one round was fired into the air.

As the two men wrestled over the shotgun, Niel punched Fred Weston in the face several times, SDSO said. Fred Weston's nose was broken and he fell to the ground where Niel began choking him with the shotgun. 

That's when Fred Weston's 19-year-old son, Joseph, who was watching the confrontation over surveillance cameras, armed himself with a TASER stun gun and rush to his father's aid. 

Joseph Weston shot Niel with the stun gun, forcing him to the ground, Tomaiko said. The family then tied up the robbery suspect with a belt until SDSO deputies arrived.

SDSO found copper cable from the Westons' property on Niel, Tomaiko said.

Niel was taken to the hospital for treatment and booked into the Vista Detention Center on robbery and grand theft charges. 

Fred Weston was treated for his injuries at a local hospital and has since been released. 

The sheriff's department initially described the incident as a burglary but later deemed the crime a robbery. 

Police are searching for a missing teenage girl with a traumatic brain injury that requires her to have 24-hour supervision. 

Nikki Leopold, 19, went missing from a group home on Billow Drive in the Lomita area at about 7 p.m. Monday, the San Diego Police Department said. 

Leopold has the mental ability of a child because of her traumatic brain injury, police said. She is considered at-risk. 

She is described as a 19-year-old woman, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black tank top, black and white chevron pajama-style pants, and black shoes.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the SDPD Missing Persons Unit at (619) 531-2277. 

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

A former South Bay psychiatrist and the subject of an NBC 7 Investigation pleaded guilty Monday to having sexual contact with his patients. 

NBC 7 Investigates first reported on the case of Leon Fajerman in July 2017, when the California Medical Board suspended his license.

On Monday, Fajerman pleaded guilty to felony sexual contact with a patient and misdemeanor sexual battery, according to the District Attorney's office.

There were eight victims in all involved in incidents between October 2016 to July 2017. 

The 75-year-old touched the patients against their will Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Matzger said in a previous interview. 

Fajerman initially faced seven years behind bars but Judge Francis Devaney is expected to consider alternatives to actual jail time, according to the prosecutor.

When Fajerman is sentenced in January, it's expected he will be placed on felony probation, ordered to pay restitution, required to register as a sex offender, and be orered to serve 365 days in custody.

NBC 7 Investigates first discovered the allegations of sexual assault against Fajerman in July 2017, when the Medical Board suspended his license. He surrendered his medical license.

Former patient Linda Sanchez told NBC 7 that Fajerman repeatedly groped and assaulted her in his Chula Vista office.

He also practiced out of offices in El Cajon and San Diego. 

A gay employee of St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in University Heights was forced to resign after a series of hate message and threats were made towards him and his family. 

San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy emphasized his support for Pastoral Associate Aaron Bianco, who resigned last weekend, and called the threats made towards the parishioner, "reprehensible."

"There is nothing Christian or Catholic about the hateful and vile people whose persecution of Aaron Bianco drove him from his ministry and who continue to threaten him, his family and the staff and community at St. John the Evangelist parish," McElroy said in a written statement.

Bianco, an openly gay man, has been targeted by a slew of anti-gay messages in his two years working for the parish. Recently, a hateful slur was spray-painted on an office wall of their church. 

San Diego police were searching surveillance cameras to see if they could find the vandals. 

Bianco had also been the subject of articles posted that claim he and Bishop Robert McElroy are corrupting the church at the parish and diocesan levels, he said.

But despite the messages, he told NBC 7 last week he didn't want to give the attackers power over him and would continue his work with the church. 

It is not clear what caused Bianco to resign this weekend. 

St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church considers themselves welcoming and inclusive and has an LGBT outreach ministry program.

A message on their website reads, "As a diocese we want to be with everyone. We want to send a message of love, compassion, listening and being with all the people."

Read the full statement from San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy: 

"There is nothing Christian or Catholic about the hateful and vile people whose persecution of Aaron Bianco drove him from his ministry and who continue to threaten him, his family and the staff and community at St. John the Evangelist parish.

"These reprehensible acts are utterly contrary to Catholic teaching and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The hatred that lies behind them constitutes a dark and vicious corner in the life of our Church that every member of the Catholic community must reject.

"I support and stand in solidarity with the staff and community of St. John’s parish at this pivotal moment."

Two San Diego-based U.S. Navy SEALs are charged in a war crimes case tied to the execution of an Islamic State detainee in Iraq last year, according to the U.S. Navy Times.

Lt. Jacob “Jake” Portier faces an Article 32 hearing on suspicion he covered up a string of war crimes allegedly committed by Special Operations Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher. Both SEALS have said they are innocent.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service probe is looking into the death of a wounded Islamic State fighter near Mosul, Iraq in May 2017.

Prosecutors allege Gallagher stabbed and killed the wounded man until he died, posed for a photograph next to the body and opted to complete his reenlistment ceremony next to the corpse which brought “discredit upon the armed forces,” according to the published report.

He also faces allegations he shot two noncombatant people.

Portier, who is accused of dereliction of duty, was not present at the time of the homicide, according to the report.

Gallagher is accused of encouraging members of his platoon to stay quiet about what happened in Iraq, the Navy Times reporter Carl Prine writes. Those conversations allegedly took place in and around San Diego between April and September when he was arrested, he reports.

Prine reports the NCIS investigation targets several SEALs who deployed to Iraq between 2017 and early 2018 as well as senior enlisted and commissioned leaders in Naval Special Warfare Group 1.

When NBC 7 tried to confirm news of Gallagher's Sept. 11 arrest, Naval Special Warfare spokeswoman Cmdr. Tamara Lawrence confirmed that a Naval Special Warfare unit member was under investigation but declined to give details to "maintain the integrity of the investigation."

"A service member currently assigned to a Naval Special Warfare unit is under investigation by NCIS for professional misconduct while deployed to Iraq in 2017," she said in a statement to NBC 7. "We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and will cooperate fully with investigative authorities."

The Navy SEALs Fund Brotherhood Beyond Battlefield has launched a fundraising campaign for Gallagher who served eight tours of duty with six as an elite special forces operator.

In 2017, Gallagher was ranked as the top SEAL chief and his platoon was ranked as the top SEAL platoon, the website said. 

California drivers can get some DMV services from self-serve kiosks around the state including four located in grocery stores in San Diego County. 

The DMV Now Self-Service Terminal has been installed in Albertsons in Vista, Chula Vista, and Escondido and one Ralphs store in Del Mar, according to DMV officials. 

There are 137 kiosks statewide in locations like libraries, AAA auto clubs and at UC Irvine. There are also some kiosks at DMV locations.

Drivers can take their vehicle registration notice or most recent vehicle registration card to renew their registration using credit or debit cards. Instructions are provided in English and Spanish. 

Here are the locations where you can find the self-service kiosks:

Albertsons

• 1601 S. Melrose Dr., Vista, CA 92081
• 720 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910
• 1509 E. Valley Pkwy., Escondido, CA 92027 

Ralphs

• 3455 Del Mar Heights Rd., Del Mar, CA 92130

In an attempt to reduce wait times, there are some DMV locations open on Saturdays. 

The San Diego-Clairemont, Chula Vista, San Marcos, Poway and Temecula DMV locations are among the 62 field offices that are open for Saturday hours. 

Anyone interested in scheduling an appointment on Saturday can do so 90 days in advance on the DMV website, or by calling (800) 777-0133.

Six children at a long-term care medical facility in New Jersey have died after a “severe outbreak” of adenovirus, a family of viruses that can cause mild illness, while 12 others have been infected, according to the state's Department of Health.

New Jersey Department of Health officials said children were recently infected with adenovirus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, Passaic County. The medical institution houses the Pediatric Center.

The facility has been instructed not to admit any new patients until the outbreak ends and they are in full compliance, the DOH says.

Adenoviruses are common viruses that can cause a range of illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The viruses cause cold-like symptoms, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, and pink eye. Adenoviruses can pose serious complications to certain people, particularly those with weakened immune systems, respiratory issues and cardiac disease.

That is the case at the Wanaque Center, health officials said. 

"Unfortunately, the particular strain of adenovirus (#7) in this outbreak is affecting medically fragile children with severely compromised immune systems," the New Jersey Department of Health in a statement. "This strain has been particularly associated with disease in communal living facilities."

According to the CDC, adenoviruses are typically spread from an infected person to others through: close personal contact such touching or shaking hands; through the air by coughing and sneezing; or by touching an object or surface with adenoviruses on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands.

Health investigators visited the facility over the weekend as part of their probe, officials said.

The state Department of Health further said that it is monitoring the situation “very closely” and has been in contact with the staff at the center “providing guidance on infection control and cleaning procedures.”

The Wanaque Center is a for-profit facility that, according to its website, works with "with medically fragile children" from newborn to 22 years of age. The center also serves as an adult nursing home and rehabilitation center for short- and long-term care.

A spokesperson for the Wanaque Center did not respond to repeated request for comment.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a statement on the adenovirus outbreak saying that he is "heartbroken by the news that several children have lost their lives."

"I have been briefed by [Commissioner of Health] Dr. [Shereef] Elnahal, who has assured me that the Department of Health has recommended vital measures to enhance protections against the further spread of infection and will continue its active on-site surveillance," Murphy says in his statement. "I am confident that the steps being taken by state and local officials will minimize the impact to all those who remain at the facility, including patients and employees.”

The cause of the outbreak remains unclear.

More than 2,000 homicides have occurred in the city of Tijuana, Mexico so far in 2018, according to figures from the State Attorney's Office (PGJE) obtained by Telemundo 20.

No matter how many people are killed, residents say they won’t get used to the feeling of insecurity.

"Terrible, there are murders everywhere, there are women who drag them to steal their bags, there are signs hanging from bodies," Silvia Rosas, a merchant from the border city, told Telemundo 20.

About seven people are killed in the city daily, amounting to 2,009 deaths this year compared to 1,647 total homicides in 2017, according to the PGJE.

In the face of violence, citizens say they walk carefully through the streets. However, some murders even take place a few meters away from the Municipal Public Security Secretariat.

"On this street, apparently it's quiet because we have the C4 of the police here on the corner, but in the street that is here behind, the week there was a murder," Rosas said. “It’s incredible.”

The PGJE numbers show 2018 has been the deadliest period in the city’s history. Just six years ago in 2013, there were 508 homicides.

Despite the record frequency, Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastélum says he expects the numbers to improve.

"The sun comes out every day, every day there is an opportunity to be better, every day there is an opportunity to improve, I would bet on that, to improve," said Gastélum.

According to Marco Antonio Sotomayor, Secretary of Public Security of Tijuana, the opportunity to fight against violence is lost due to the changes that exist in the penal system.

The Ministry of Public Security also added on Monday that although 90 percent of homicides are linked to drug dealing, there is no support from the federal government.

Mark your calendar. This year's annual holiday festival in San Diego's Balboa Park will take place December 7 and December 8, 2018.

December Nights has it all - from holiday lights and seasonal music to dancers and tasty winter treats. 

The free weekend festival will return for its 41st year with free admission to museums on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

December Nights started in 1978 as part of "Christmas on the Prado" in Balboa Park, a small holiday celebration put together by a dozen institutions along El Prado. The crowds and event grew over the decades and, in 2002, it was renamed December Nights.

Each year, it signals the start of the festive season in San Diego, drawing families from all over the county to the heart of the city. It continues to be the largest free community event in San Diego. 

If you drive, be prepared to wait for a parking space, as lots fill up quickly. The only free parking lot is at the San Diego Zoo. Otherwise, paid parking options will be offered at the Natural History Museum lot ($25 per car), the South Carousel lot ($25 per car) and the Inspiration Point parking lot ($20 per car).

Free shuttle rides to December Nights will also be offered from two locations: the City College parking lot at C and 16th streets, which has more than 1,500 free parking spaces, and from numerous parking lots on Ash Street between 5th and 6th avenues in downtown San Diego. The last shuttle leaves both locations at 8:30 p.m. on both nights of the event.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System will offer its trolley and bus services around Balboa Park.

For more information on December Nights 2018, visit the event website.

A crowd watching from the ground cheered Tuesday morning when Orange County firefighters rescued a window washer who was stranded on a rope after his scaffolding collapsed outside a nine-story building Tuesday morning in Santa Ana.

The worker was harnessed to the rope at about the seventh floor of the federal building at 34 Civic Center Boulevard, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. 

"He was roughly on the seventh floor dangling by a safety rope," said Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Craig Covey. "It's something we train for all the time."

The team has ropes up to about 600 feet long for what's called a "high angle rescue." The proper equipment training and a calm window washer led to a smooth rescue operation high above Santa Ana, Covey said. 

"The victim was very calm," said Covey. "Obviously, it's not his first time doing this. He remained calm the whole time and our guys could just get to work.

"It's a great day today. We got to save a life. That's what we live for."

An Orange County Fire Association fire-rescue team member was lowered down from the building's roof and secured the worker. The two were then lowered to the ground.

Witnesses who had been watching on the ground clapped and cheered as the window washer touched down. 

Rescue team members were talking with the window washer through a window during the operation. 

Nearby streets were closed for the rescue operation. 

The stranded worker did not appear to suffer serious injuries.

TGI Weekend! It's Fleet Week in San Diego, which means an array of activities that support our military service members. There are also ample opportunities to get the kids out and exploring -- from a camping experience with wild animals to trick-or-treating in Little Italy. Of course, adults will find their share of parties as well. 91X is hosting a "boos" cruise and the Hotel Del Coronado is serving up "spirits." There's so much to do in America's Finest City! Get up. Get out. Play!

Thursday, October 25 
Kids Free October 
Times Vary (through October), Locations Vary
It’s the time of year when celebrating the little ones in your life gets even easier. October is Kids Free month in San Diego at more than 100 participating restaurants, attractions and hotels. That means free meals, free admission to theme parks, museums and more, and free gifts at several other locations. Kids can take a dive at Legoland when an adult buys their ticket, visit the animals at either the San Diego Zoo or San Diego Zoo Safari Park (or both!), or dine free at Carnitas Snack Shack, just to name a few. A list of all deals being offered in San Diego County this October can be found here. 

Boomont & Fall Fest 2018
5 to 10 p.m. (through Sunday), Belmont Park
Get thrills and chills during Belmont Park’s annual Halloween festival, Boomont. The amusement park along Mission Bay is transformed into a festive getaway with themed rides and attractions like the Spooky Coaster and Zombie Laser Tag. Ride wristbands will be half-price to those that mention the offer. Kids 12 and under can dress up in costumes and trick-or-treat throughout the park from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. each night. The festival is held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday through November 12 with different featured events each night.

Brick or Treat
5 to 9 p.m., Legoland Resort
Trick-or-treating gets Legofied this Halloween season. Brick or Treat at Legoland California Resort brings not-so-spooky thrills to families on Saturday nights through October 27. The amusement park will be adorned with 16 treat stations that each night will be filled with more than one million pieces of candy. Little ones can craft pumpkins and meet Lego friends at the fall festival within the park. Then, a midnight monster jam lets families dance the night away. Guests are encouraged to dress in costume for Brick or Treat. Tickets to the event alone cost $54 or can be purchased in combination with a day admission pass to Legoland or Sea Life Aquarium starting at $79.

Ghouls in the Garden: ‘Ghostbusters’
6:30 p.m., Stone World & Bistro Gardens (Escondido)
Have a haunting evening at Stone Brewing’s sprawling Escondido garden as its overtaken by the chill of fall and a spooky movie screening. For the month of October, the brewery presents “Ghouls in the Garden,” on select nights. Guests can watch these classic “spooky” films at the Escondido location’s upper deck, like this week’ pick “Ghostbusters.” While there, grab a pint of Stone Delicious IPA, Arrogant Bastard Ale or one of the dozens of other brews on tap. The screening is free but space is limited on a first come, first serve basis.

‘Julius Caesar’
7 p.m. (through Sunday), The Old Globe
“Julius Caesar,” The classic Shakespearean tragedy about power and betrayal, will be brought to life with actors from the Old Globe and University of San Diego’s joint theatre program for one week only. The play focuses on Caesar’s friend, Brutus, who must decide whether or not to turn against the Roman general. Ticket start at $19 for showings running at various times through Sunday at the circular Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre stage.

The Scream Zone 

7 p.m., Del Mar Fairgrounds
Everybody scream! The Del Mar Fairgrounds again becomes a playground for horrifying creatures of the night for The Scream Zone. Enter if you dare into the three maze-filled haunts, including the popular haunted hayride, and other terrifying attractions with the purchase of a $34 ticket.  A single haunt ticket is available for $21. This Friday only, admission is slashed in half. Outside the mazes, there are food and drink vendors and photo opportunities. The Scream Zone runs through October 31.

Cinema Under the Stars
8 p.m. (Thursday through Saturday), Cinema Under the Stars
Comedic legend Mel Brook’s “Young Frankenstein,” starring the late Gene Wilder, is screening ahead of Halloween at this outdoor theater on Goldfinch Street in Mission Hills. The comedy about a scientist who reanimates a dead body screens Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Admission is $18 at the box office, or you can reserve your seat in advance for $20.

Friday, October 26

Fleet Week Military Ship Tours 
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (through Sunday), Broadway Pier
Fleet Week San Diego is in full swing and that means plenty of activities and events to honor the city’s large military community. That includes tours of U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships at the Broadway Pier for active duty military, veterans, their families and civilians. Tours are free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday. For a list of other Fleet Week events, including an innovation zone and a NCAA football viewing party, click here. 

Pumpkin Express
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday), Pacific Southwest Railway Museum (Campo)
All aboard the Pumpkin Express! The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association invites brave guests to take a ride through San Diego County’s mountains on their haunted railcars. Trains depart from the Campo Depot three times a day through Sunday, Oct. 28 for a scenic ride through the winding San Diego and Arizona Railway for those with an $18 ticket or $14 ticket for kids. When guests return to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, they will be met with a variety of Halloween-time activities, like pumpkin decorating and two haunted train walkthroughs.

Lions Tigers & Bears’ Spooky Campover
3 p.m. to 10 a.m., Lions Tigers and Bears Sanctuary
Calling all wild animal lovers! Here is your chance to have a sleepover with some exotic animals -- sort of. Lions, Tigers and Bears Sanctuary in Alpine is opening its doors for its annual Spooky Campover, a sleepover at the exotic animal rescue. Adults can camp overnight for $80 and children for $55 but are encouraged to bring their own camping gear, food and pumpkin to carve and feed to the hungry animals on Saturday morning. Guests can also participate in a costume contest on Saturday morning. Reservations can be made here.

Trick-or-Treat on India Street 
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Piazza della Famiglia (Little Italy) (email)
Come dressed in your ghoulishly best to trick-or-treat on historic India Street. Little Italy’s restaurants, shops and other participating businesses will be doling out sweet treats to provide kids with a fun and safe adventure. Pick up your trick-or-treating guide at the Piazza della Famiglia on W. Date Street. Kids of all ages are welcome at this free, family event.

HalGLOWeen 
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (through Sunday), San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo has a spooktacular night in store for HalGLOWeen guests. The park turns into a glowing dance party filled with bubbles from 5 to 8 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. There will be fun entertainment scattered throughout the park, from an organist performing spooky tunes to a show with contortionists, acrobats and jugglers. For a full list of HaloGLOW activities, visit here. Access to the event comes with an adult admission ticket, which costs $54, and is free for kids.

Hops on the Harbor 
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Flagship Cruises & Events
Flagship Cruises’ Hops on the Harbor gives a local San Diego brewery a chance to show off their best suds alongside a curated menu of offerings that perfectly accompany each beer. This month, Second Chance Beer, the award-winning Carmel Mountain brewery, joins Hops on the Harbor. Guests will enjoy four 6-ounce samples of Second Chance’s creations and a cruise around San Diego Bay aboard a yacht. This month’s menu features: a rhubarb-apple chutney grilled chicken with roasted garlic mashed potatoes paired with Second Chance’s Brewbies in my Mind; and a grapefruit marmalade California halibut with a wild rice pilaf, roasted vegetables and accompanied by the brewery’s Clever Hoppy Name, just to name a few. The dinner cruise boards at 7 p.m. from 990 North Harbor Dr. and sails past the San Diego skyline, USS Midway, Star of India and other Maritime Museum ships and the Coronado Bay Bridge. Tickets cost $79.50 for adults and $47.70 for children ages 4 to 12; kids 3 and under are free. Reservations are recommended.

Saturday, October 27

San Diego Pet Con 
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Del Mar Fairgrounds
From furry friends to reptilian companions, San Diego is celebrating your pet this Saturday. San Diego Pet Con is an indoor convention geared towards pets and their needs. Meet experienced groomers, veterinarians, trainers and retailers with tips and goods catered to your pet at the indoor event. Pets are welcome but must be on a fixed leash or in a carrier with proof of vaccinations. They can even compete in a pet talent or a pet costume contest. Don’t have a pet? San Diego Pet Con also offers adoption opportunities. General admission tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for kids.

Day of the Dead 
11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ray Street (North Park)
The Mexican tradition to honor loved ones who have passed away is coming to North Park in the form of a large Day of the Dead festival. Dozens of vendors, from local artists to crafters and boutiques, will be set up along Ray Street south of University Avenue during the festival. Guests will be able to decorate their own sugar skulls, sip on mezcal and tequila, lounge with a beer in the cerveza cantina and enjoy tasty bites from several food trucks, all while enjoying musical performances during this free event. While there, stop by the NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 booth to meet some of the team and for your shot to win prizes.

Boos and Brews 

12 to 5 p.m., Upper East Bar
Guests with a $25 all-you-can-drink ticket to Boos and Brews will get pours of craft beer from 10 local breweries at Upper East Bar, a rooftop lounge atop Kimpton Solamar Hotel (616 J St.) in the historic Gaslamp. The 21-and-up event also features food and drink specials and outdoor games.

Mall-O-Ween 
2 to 4 p.m., Hazard Center
This kid-friendly jamboree at the plaza level of the Hazard Center in Mission Valley will offer fun and frights for all ages. The event features carnival games, arts and crafts, music and a costume contest, which costs $10 to enter and is open to both children and families. Proceeds from the event are donated to Angels Foster Family Network.

Haunted Tales Aboard the Star of India
6 p.m., Maritime Museum of San Diego
The oldest active sailing ship in the world has its share of ghost stories and this Halloween, the Star of India wants to share them with you. Guests are invited to climb aboard the 280-foot long ship (now a tourist attraction) and hear haunted tales from its 155-year history while touring the vessel by lantern light. Tours cost $18 for adults and $8 for kids and will be held every 15 minutes from 6 to 10 p.m.

The Bull of Sant’Agata Charge Little Italy 
6 to 11 p.m., Fir Street (Little Italy)
More than 40 Lamborghinis, known as the “Italian bulls,” will be on display on the streets of Little Italy. Get your photo with these souped-up sports cars on W. Fir Street between India Street and Kettner Boulevard during the Bulls of Sant'Agata Charge Little Italy, a free annual event hosted by Lamborghini La Jolla and other car dealerships.

Fall Grooves at the Westin 

7 p.m., Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa
The annual Fall Grooves music series is back with three jazzy concerts this season at the Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa (71333 Dinah Shore Drive). This Saturday, Grammy-award winning artists Paul Brown, Gregg Karukas, featuring the “Midnight Blue” singer Melissa Manchester will take the stage at the Masters Plaza. Tickets range from $45 to $85 and can be purchased here. 

Hallo-wine and Spirits 
7 p.m. to midnight, Hotel Del Coronado
The Hotel Del Coronado will be dishing out hauntingly good spirits for this Halloween-themed wine and cocktail event. Guests are encouraged to dress up in costume for the adult-only Hallo-wine and Spirits Party. The Del will be eerily decorated and chefs will be serving up delicious eats and spooky cocktails to those with a $155 ticket. Each ticket comes with dinner, wine tasting, dessert and two drink tickets.

Sunday, October 28

High Tide Breakfast 
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Marine Room (La Jolla)
The fall season means high tides in the morning. Diners of the Marine Room’s High Tide Breakfast will feel a part of the ocean as five-, six- and seven-foot waves crash upon their large windows while a buffet of baked goods, charcuterie, eggs benedict, crepes and other delectable breakfast items are served. The dining experience can only be enjoyed during peak tides at certain times and select days from October through December. Reservations should be made in advance. 

Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday), San Diego Botanic Gardens
Add a few desert plants to your home from the Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale at the San Diego Botanic Garden. The show will feature a wide variety of award-winning plants, so guests can get inspiration for their own garden. While there, enjoy fall-themed activities like pumpkin painting and Halloween crafts during the garden’s Family Fall Festival 2018. https://www.sdbgarden.org/family-fall.htm Both events are free with a $18 adult ticket or $10 youth ticket to the botanic garden. Kids three and under are free.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular

10 a.m. to 9 p.m., SeaWorld San Diego
Don’t wait for Halloween to trick or treat. Kids and their parents can stroll trick-or-treat booths set up throughout the SeaWorld San Diego for their annual Halloween Spooktacular, which runs this year through October 28. On top of treat hunting, families can sing and dance along to the all-new Sesame Street Halloween Parade, catch a holiday-themed Clyde and Seamore show and more. Spooktacular comes with a general admission ticket starting at $55, which gives guests access to all of SeaWorld’s daily offerings.

The Haunted Hotel
6 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Fridays and Saturdays)
424 Market Street (San Diego)
It’s time to check in to The Haunted Hotel. One of San Diego’s most popular Halloween haunts returns with some spooktacular frights. Guests will take a ride up the hotel’s haunted Hellavator before walking own a bleak corridor filled with scares. On Wednesdays, try the whole thing in the dark. Tickets cost $20 and times vary; check the schedule here

91X & Z90 Halloween Boo's Cruise 
6:30 to 10 p.m., Hornblower Landing
Have a frighteningly good time on one of the Hornblower’s luxury yachts as it takes a spin around San Diego Bay for 91X & Z90’s Halloween Boo’s Cruise. The two-and-a-half hour sail will depart from Hornblower Landing (1800 N. Harbor Dr.) and take guests past some of San Diego’s most historic landmarks, like the Star of India, the Navy’s aircraft carriers, and Coronado Bay Bridge. During the 21-and-up event, a DJ will spin as costumed guests sip on cocktails and nibble on snacks. Tickets to the booze cruise cost $25 per person; VIP tickets are available for $65.

Movies in the Park
Times Vary, Locations Vary
Across the county through October, cities are taking part in movie screenings at their local outdoor parks. Almost every day of the week, San Diegans can find a different free outdoor movie screening thanks to the county-wide initiative. The full calendar of screenings for the summer can be found here. Bring a picnic, chairs and a blanket to enjoy the movie of your choice starting at sunset.

The Haunted Trail 
7 to 11 p.m., Balboa Park
Are you daring enough to traverse one of San Diego’s most popular haunted Halloween-time destinations? The Haunted Trail, located on the corner of Balboa Drive and Juniper in Balboa Park, is a mile-long walk filled with the likes of Freddy, Michael Myers, The Nun and other terrors. The trail is not recommended for those under 10 years old. Tickets cost $25 but a VIP fastpass is available for $12 more.

Free or Cheap Things to Do in San Diego
Times and locations vary

Looking to save some cash, but still enjoy the city? In San Diego, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy for free or on the cheap. Go for a hike at Torrey Pines State Park or Cowles Mountain, stroll Balboa Park, try a new craft brewery, admire the murals of Chicano Park or read a book at a downtown park. Get out there and explore America’s Finest City.

Carlsbad will now provide lifeguard services to North Beach after the city has seen an increased need for it in the historically unattended area.

Most of the city’s nearly seven-mile coastline is managed by the California State Parks, which provides lifeguards. However, North Beach in Carlsbad is not part of the state’s program.

The Carlsbad City Council received bids from California State Parks and Orange County Lifeguards to provide the new services, but the council decided to keep the program within the city.

The city council created a lifeguard pilot program in 2017.

Two full-time lifeguard positions will be created within the Carlsbad Fire Department. And about 25 part-time lifeguards will be brought on during peak seasons.

Three wooden lifeguard towers, two lifeguard trucks, and one watercraft will also be included for the area.

The estimated yearly cost of these new services is $603,300, according to the city council’s staff report.

North Beach spans from Oak Avenue to the northern border of Carlsbad.

A former La Jolla high school teacher pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual misconduct with a student Tuesday.

Jonathan Sammartino, 35, faces charges of statutory rape and sex acts with a minor.

Sammartino was a teacher at La Jolla Country Day School when he reportedly began a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student, according to the San Diego Police Department’s arrest warrant affidavit.

The relationship, also described as romantic in nature, lasted from April 2016 until September 2016, according to the affidavit.

“The complaint came from a person who has alleged that there was inappropriate contact at some point after she attended class or just before graduation or sometime after she graduated from school,” Sammartino’s lawyer, Gene Iredale, said.

If convicted, Sammartino would face up to four years and four months in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

A little more than a year after the alleged relationship ended, Sammartino left La Jolla and began teaching at The Harker School in San Jose.

The student, now attending University of California, Berkeley, filed a criminal report against Sammartino with campus police on August 22, 2018.

Shortly after, Sammartino was arrested in San Jose.

He was put on administrative leave with pay, pending the resolution of the case, according to his lawyer.

Sammartino taught psychology and the trivium, a class about rhetoric, grammar, and logic.

Both The Harker School and La Jolla Country Day School notified students and families of Sammartino's arrest.

He is the son of U.S. Southern District of California Judge Janis L. Sammartino.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 5.

A small vintage plane crash-landed on lanes of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills Tuesday, bursting into flames, and amazingly, the pilot walked away.

The North American SNJ-5 airplane with the pilot aboard as the solo occupant crashed near the center lanes of the northbound 101 Freeway near Liberty Canyon Road around 1:15 p.m., according to the LA County Fire Department. 

The plane's wing, still aflame, was draped over the center divider as crews worked to extinguish the blaze and amazed commuters recorded video.

The back end of the plane appeared to be missing as the fire continued to burn on lanes. It took off from Van Nuys Airport, a spokesperson confirmed. 

All lanes were to be closed for an unknown duration. Traffic on the northbound side was backed up for miles as crews worked to clear the wreckage. 

The vintage aircraft featuring German markings on the wings is usually seen in parades and belongs to the Condor Squadron club, Van Nuys Airport said. The club non-profit organization -- founded by WWII pilots in 1965 -- is dedicated to preserving aviation history.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash.

The U.S Marine Corps is investigating inappropriate flight pattern images made by a pilot over the Salton Sea.

MCAS Miramar 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing spokesperson Major Josef Patterson said the pilot was flying with the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101.

"Obscene or inappropriate actions, flight or not, do not reflect the core values we hold as marines," Maj. Patterson said.

Patterson said the USMC will determine if any disciplinary action is to be taken at the conclusion of the investigation.

Two weeks before the election, polls show Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom with anywhere from an eight to 23 point lead over businessman John Cox in the race for California’s next governor.

His big lead in the polls may be one reason the race is not getting a lot of high profile attention. The heads of both major parties of San Diego County have their own reasons.

“I don’t think anybody considers John Cox a serious candidate. And the reason is, he's a big time Trump supporter,” said Jessica Hayes, the Chairwoman of the San Diego County Democratic Party.

“Part of it is, the Democrat candidate for governor is taking this race for granted and doesn't feel like he has to be campaigning,” said Tony Krvaric, the Chairman of the San Diego Republican Party.

Cox will be in San Diego for a town hall meeting that will be televised by Entravision, a primarily Spanish-speaking network.

In a news release, the Cox campaign said Newsom “again skips opportunity to discuss his dismal public service record.” The Newsom campaign has yet to respond to an email by NBC 7 as to why he declined to take part in the forum.

But both candidates have made their share of stops in San Diego over the last few months.

Newsom has spoken in front of labor union members discussing issues from gun control to police brutality.

Cox recently visited the St. Vincent De Paul homeless shelter.

In fact, the issue of homelessness and affordable housing was in the forefront during the candidates’ only debate – on radio – earlier this month.

Cox discussed the need to speed up the permitting process and ease regulations to build more housing.

Newsom discussed the need to create clearer housing goals and objectives at the local level.

But for, at least, one homeless advocate, something is missing in the conversation.

“What’s important to me is they address the issue of actual affordable housing, not 'affordable housing', but housing that people can afford,” said Kelly Knight with the Alpha Project.

Cox has been an outspoken advocate for Proposition 6, the effort to repeal the gas tax. The county Republican Party chair said a yes vote on Prop 6 should mean a yes vote for Cox.

“I think Californians know that they need a change. John Cox represents change, something different. What we have now is not working,” said Krvaric.

The county Democratic Party chair has a much different opinion.

“Democrats are invested in the race because we love our candidate. I don't see that same kind of response from Republicans. They don’t go ‘woo!’ They go 'is that the best we can do?’” said Hayes.

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

A gay pastoral associate at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Polk Avenue in San Diego is resigning his post after threats of violence got to be too much. 

Aaron Bianco had been with the church since 2016. He said the attacks happened almost immediately on him and his husband of 10 years. 

"It's heartbreaking to be resigning," said Bianco. "I've dedicated my life to the church." 

In October, the inside walls in an office of the church were vandalized with a  homophobic slur. Bianco said there have also been dozens of hateful emails sent to him in the last two years. 

"A year ago they slashed my tires," Bianco recalled. "One guy attacked me after mass." 

Bianco said the decision to resign his post came after his personal information was leaked on a conservative Catholic website. It included pictures of his family and his home address.  

"They put photos of my deceased mother as well," said Bianco. "I knew at that time my family and my safety were more important. I submitted my resignation." 

Since the news of the threats went public, Bianco's colleagues have come forward to voice support for him. 

San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy emphasized his support for Pastoral Associate Aaron Bianco, who resigned last weekend, and called the threats made towards the parishioner, "reprehensible."

St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church considers themselves welcoming and inclusive and has an LGBT outreach ministry program.

An undocumented immigrant didn’t know where to turn when he found his car with a wheel lock apparently deployed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The undocumented Carlsbad man said two people dressed as officers came to his home Monday but neither showed any identification. After they left, he went outside and found the boot, marked with an ICE sticker, on his car.

NBC 7 reached out to ICE to see if the wheel lock was placed by ICE agents or if ICE uses wheel locks like it.

Ice spokesperson Lauren Mack said ICE is not familiar with that style of lock and that it doesn’t appear to be one that ICE uses. She also said Homeland Security Investigations does not use any other type of wheel lock.

The Carlsbad man consulted with immigration attorney Narciso Cruz, who agreed with ICE.

“Immigration does not put boots on cars. I verified this with other colleagues in our field, immigration, and none of them have ever seen anything like this. Some of my colleagues have contact with immigration officers who enforce immigration laws here, none of them have ever verified something that happens like this,” Cruz said.

Cruz is now wondering who put the boot on the man’s car. He thinks someone may have put the lock on the car to scare the owner.

Cruz is encouraging people who see something like this to report it to the police, and is reminding people that it is against the law to impersonate a federal agency.

The San Diego City Council passed a resolution Tuesday to create additional permanent supportive housing units in every district to address its homelessness problem.

Permanent supportive housing (PSH) was found to be the most effective intervention to address homelessness for those with significant challenges, according to the council’s staff report.

PSH units have subsidized housing and wrap-around supportive services. Households pay 30 percent of their income for rent, according to the city council.

Nearly 90 percent of households in the program do not return homelessness within a year, the staff report said.

This type of housing is relatively low in San Diego compared to other major cities. San Diego had 119 PSH units per 100,000 residents in 2017. San Francisco had 971, Washington D.C. had 961, and Boston had 722.

The Los Angeles City Council adopted a similar resolution, pledging to create thousands of new PSH units within three years. It had 198 PSH units per 100,000 residents.

San Diego’s resolution promised to create at least 140 new PSH units in every district.

The San Diego Housing Commission’s Housing First San Diego plan set a goal to create 500 new PSH units between 2018 and 2020.

A Point-in-Time Count census showed 1,227 chronically homeless households within the City of San Diego in 2018.

Districts 1, 2, and 5 had no PSH units, according to the census. District 3 had the most with 1,093 PSH units.

The city currently has nearly 3,000 PSH units already, the staff report said.

The State of California has more than $32 million to spend on homeless solutions in the San Diego area. The county can also compete for millions more for affordable housing developments, according to the city council.

The Select Committee on Homelessness Committee sent the proposal to the full city council on July 30, 2018.

The city council vote Tuesday was unanimous.

Two people slammed into the back of a three-car trolley Tuesday night, according to the San Diego Police Department.

Officers said the two were on a scooter during the crash.

One was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital, and the other was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center. It's unclear the extent of their injuries, SDPD said.

The collision happened just before 6:30 p.m. near 24th Street and Commercial Street.

Police currently shut down both trolley tracks, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) said.

Orange Line buses will take passengers from the 12th and Imperial Transit Center to the 25th and Commercial Trolley Station.

It will cause a 10 to 15 minute delay, according to MTS.

The crash was caught on nearby MTS security cameras.

No other information was available.

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